Xabi Alonso facing eight-year prison sentence for tax fraud

A Spanish prosecutor has called for the retired midfielder to spend time behind bars.

Xabi Alonso is facing a possible eight-year prison sentence for tax fraud, according to reports. The Spaniard, who retired from football in 2017 after a decorated career that included successful spells at Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, is alleged to have undeclared income from image rights. The accusations date back to when he was playing in Spain. Spanish authorities have reportedly reopened the case against the World Cup winner, with prosecutors demanding that he be sent to jail if found guilty, according to El Confidential. The report alleges that Alonso's tax advisors helped him avoid paying around €2.5 million in taxes during his time at Real Madrid. Alonso insists that he is innocent. The 36-year-old is alleged to have used a Madeira-based company for his image rights, with the Portuguese archipelago being away from Spanish fiscal control. The original case, opened in 2015, was closed after it was determined that Alonso had not committed a crime. Alonso has not accepted the offence, which could lead to a penalty which would see him avoid imprisonment.